Environmental science integrates many fields of study to understand the environment and human interactions with it. It explores how the natural world works, how the environment affects humans, and how humans affect the environment. Some of the key questions environmental science addresses are: how do humans cause environmental problems and how can these problems be avoided? It also examines issues like population growth, water and food resources, air and water pollution, energy needs, and climate change. The goal is to understand these challenges and find sustainable solutions that do not harm ecosystems.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE WHAT’S AHEAD FOR US?

2. Environmental Science: integrates many sciences & fields of study

3. ENVIRONMENT What is the environment? the circumstances and conditions that surround an organism or group of organisms the social and cultural conditions that affect an individual or

4. ENVIRONMENT . Humans are part of the natural world and we are dependent on a healthy, functioning planet. (Withgott and Brennan, 2007)

5. T-ki:dag Our home refers to our own home and the family within that unit On a larger scale “our home” is Tohono O’odham lands and the O’odham people at large is our home and family We are all part of the earth and interdependent on one another

6. T-Pi:k Elida Our deep respect for the earth, plants, animals and the people. Plants must rely on the earth for sustenance. Animals must rely upon the earth, plants and other their kind just as we rely on all-earth, plants, and animals. We must respect what is around us and give our environment our highest regards because without the plants and animals we would not survive. We have just one earth!!

7. Science = a methodical, precise, objective way to study the natural world. Science is MORE than a body of facts, it is a way of learning.

8. Environmental Science Environmental Science explores the interactions between humans and our environment. It is a study of how the natural world works, how the environment affects us, and how we affect our environment.

9. THE BIG QUESTIONS! HOW DO WE GET OURSELVES INTO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS? HOW DO WE GET (KEEP) OURSELVES OUT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS?

10. HOW THE EARTH WORKS HOW IS LIFE MAINTAINED?

11. PEOPLE ARE THERE TOO MANY PEOPLE ON THE EARTH?

12. OUR RESOURCES: WATER Freshwater is vital to sustaining life & growing food. Where will we get enough clean water to fulfill needs of growing population?

13. OUR RESOURCES: AIR HOW IS OUR AIR QUALITY? WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT?

14. RESOURCES: SOIL/FOOD HOW ARE WE GOING TO FEED EVERYONE?

15. RESOURCES: BIOLOGICAL HOW MANY PLANTS AND ANIMALS DO WE WANT ON EARTH?

16. RESOURCES: ENERGY HOW WILL MEET CURRENT & FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS WITHOUT HARMING THE EARTH’S ECOSYSTEMS?

17. GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE HOW ARE WE CAUSING OZONE DEPLETION AND GLOBAL WARMING? WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT?